We are pleased to announce the appointment of a new Group Leader, Prof Jonathan Schott, to support the institute in delivering its vision of healthy brain ageing for all.
Prof Jonathan Schott is a Professor of Neurology at the Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, and an Honorary Consultant Neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH, as well as Chief Medical Officer for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Prof Schott’s clinical practice and research are centred on the dementias with a focus on early accurate diagnosis and detection of pre-symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease, and promoting healthy cognitive ageing.
Prof Schott leads a number of major studies, including Insight 46, a longitudinal study exploring cognitive ageing and brain health in the MRC British 1946 birth cohort, and a study examining the utility of blood-based biomarkers to deliver a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease in NHS memory clinics, part of the Blood Biomarker Challenge. As part of this and to validate emerging blood tests for dementia, Prof Schott and his team work closely with the UK DRI Biomarker Factory.
The advent of novel therapies and ever better and scalable diagnostics make this a hugely exciting time to be working in dementia. The UK DRI is uniquely positioned to ensure that the UK is not only at the forefront of discovery science but also at translating new discoveries into real benefits for those living with, and those at risk of, dementia.
Group Leader
Prof Schott is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, MRC Investigator and an NIHR Senior Investigator. He has published more that 400 papers and co-edited the Oxford Textbook of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia. He is the recipient of the Alzheimer’s Association de Leon Prize in Neuroimaging, and Bill Thies award for distinguished service to the International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy (ISTAART). He has held several national and international leadership positions including as prior chair of the ISTAART Advisory Council, chair of the Association of British Neurology Clinical Advisory Group and member of the European Academy of Neurology Dementia Panel.
Prof Siddharthan Chandran, UK DRI Director, said:
“We warmly welcome Jonathan to the UK DRI – his clinical expertise and extensive real-world patient and cohort experience will be invaluable in accelerating the translation of our vital discovery research into real impact for people affected by neurodegenerative disease. His programme, leveraging major high-value cohorts, sits at the interface of discovery and translational research.”
Prof Schott added: “I am delighted to be appointed as a Group Leader and look forward to collaborating with colleagues across the Institute and beyond to help drive the UK DRI’s vision of healthy brain ageing for all.”
